A simple octree encoding algorithm based on a tetrahedron root has been developed to be used for fully automatic generation of three dimensional finite element meshes. This algorithm starts octree decomposition from a tetrahedron root node instead of a hexahedron root node so that the terminal mode has the same topology as the final tetrahedral mesh. As a result, the terminal octant can be used as a tetrahedral finite element without transforming its topology. In this part(I) of the thesis, an efficient algorithm for the tetrahedron-based octree is proposed. For this development, the following problems have been solved, : (1) an efficient data structure for storing the octree and finite elements, (2) an encoding scheme of a tetrahedral octree, (3) a neighbor finding technique for the tetrahedron-based octree.